A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.

Translating the Tweets of Brainstorming Al Qaeda Fans

Last week, it was brought to a lot of people's attention that al Qaeda were active on Twitter. This was slightly less surprising than it sounds. At a grassroots level, these early masters of the viral beheading video know social media's black magic well enough, which is probably why they decided to crowdsource ideas of how they could improve their online image.

Tags: middle east, social media, new technology, non-state pd, twitter, terrorism, al qaeda

Ecuador President Says He May Insist That Newspapers Go Digital-Only to Save Paper

Ecuador’s combative president is threatening to try to force the country’s newspapers to go all-digital as a way to save paper. Rafael Correa has long had a prickly relationship with Ecuador’s opposition-owned newspapers, and his Twitter statement Monday is a jab at papers backing a proposed referendum to block oil exploration in the pristine Yasuni national park.

Tags: media, government pd, americas, journalism, south america, newspapers, conservation, ecuador, rafael correa, yasuni national park

International Adoptions At Lowest Level In 10 Years

Eight-year-old Kaya Van Hoesen has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new sister. Her mom and dad, Erika Mazza and Todd Van Hoesen, have also been excited to meet the 5-year-old girl they’re adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The couple has been planning and saving for this since before they were married 10 years ago. They both have worked with children and have known they wanted to help one of the many who need a good home. Some estimate there are up to 200 million orphaned or abandoned children in the world. But each country’s adoption policies are unique.

Tags: government pd, international adoption, adoption

What Brands Can Learn From charity: water’s Digital Strategy

Social responsibility is no longer just an option for businesses, brands are learning. From TOMS shoes which fund the giving of shoes for people in need, to Warby Parker, which provides glasses to people in need for every pair sold, buying where your buck goes further (globally) is appealing. charity: water is a little different, as it is a proper non-profit, rather than a charity-driven business.

Tags: non-state pd, branding, corporate social responsibility, marketing, charity, charity: water

Sharpening the Relational Lens in PD, Lessons from Egypt 2013

Watching the events unfold in Egypt over the past weeks has been akin to watching a slow moving train wreck as two powerful forces – the army and the Muslim Brotherhood – collide together. Both have strong wills, resources, and high stakes in the outcome. Whereas social media played a pivotal role in uniting the Egyptian public during the January 25 revolution in 2011, it appears that mass media may be playing the critical role in dividing the Egyptian public during the current events.

Tags: middle east, public diplomacy, egypt, protests, credibility, relational pd, r.s. zaharna

Students Explore International, Cultural Diplomacy on Cuba Trip

A collaboration between USC Annenberg, the David and Dana Dornsife College and Price School of Public Policy sent a group of USC students to study shifting political, social and economic landscapes in Cuba for the second consecutive summer. Under the direction of Journalism Professor Roberto Suro and USC Dornsife Professor Pamela Starr, 25 students from an array of disciplines — public relations, public diplomacy, specialized journalism, strategic communications and international relations — spent one month immersed in research and investigation of all things Cuba.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, non-state pd, cuba, academic exchange, usc annenberg, havana

Al Jazeera America: Now at a Theater Near You

The 'black sheep' of global broadcasting has finally managed to unlock the American TV market's tightly guarded doors. Beginning with a footprint of 48 million U.S. households it is making not an easy but a promising entrance. During its 17 years of existence, the Qatari media outlet has been equally vilified and praised for its editorial guidelines and news coverage. Conversations around it would always reflect feelings of hatred or worship; either or both.

Tags: united states, media, international broadcasting, journalism, qatar, al jazeera america

Iran Aims to Deal Blow to Turkey’s Influence in Lebanon

Iran, whose relations with Ankara have been strained due to the Syrian crisis, aims to punish Turkey by dealing a blow to Turkish soft power in Lebanon, as Ankara has suspended its cultural and commercial activities in Beirut after a Turkish Airlines (THY) captain and co-pilot were kidnapped by gunmen last week. Turkey's contact with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, a key ally of Tehran, on Thursday as part of efforts to secure the release of the two Turkish pilots, raised question marks in some minds over an Iranian link in the pilots' abduction.

Tags: middle east, government pd, iran, turkey, syria, lebanon

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